A prominent member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has come under fire for allegedly using the academic title “Professor” without legitimate justification.
Richard Kofi Asiedu, the Central Regional Chairman of the NDC, has been threatened by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) over his continued unauthorised use of the honorary title “Professor.”
GTEC, in a letter dated July 28, 2025, signed by Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, Director-General, accused Asiedu of defying its directives to cease the practice, describing it as “unethical” and a violation of national law.
The Commission revealed that it had earlier written to Asiedu on June 2, 2025, demanding proof of the removal of the title from all official records, including institutional profiles, websites, and letterheads.
He was also instructed to submit his highest academic qualification for verification. However, GTEC noted with “deep concern” that Asiedu has persisted in using the title, as evidenced by a recent EELL 2025 Conference promotional poster, where he was billed as “Prof. Richard Kofi Asiedu.”
GTEC Citing Section 8(4)(d) of Act 2020 (Act 1023), it emphasised its mandate to regulate the use of academic titles, including “Professor,” and warned that failure to comply could lead to legal action.
The letter urged the NDC’s National Chairman, Johnsonson Asiedu Nketia, to intervene, stating: “The Commission respectfully appeals to you to ensure that Asiedu complies fully with the directives issued. Should he persist, the Commission may be compelled to initiate legal proceedings.”
GTEC clarified that its action was not politically motivated but aimed at upholding the integrity of academic titles. The letter was copied to the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, the NDC’s General Secretary.
In a related communication dated June 19, 2025, to the St. Andrews Group of Schools and Companies, where Asiedu serves as CEO, GTEC reiterated that while it did not dispute the honorary titles awarded to him by institutions like Alfred Nobel University in Ukraine, their use without formal academic validation was “potentially misleading.” The Commission also directed him to “purge himself” of the title by July 31, 2025, or face legal consequences.
Asiedu’s profile on the EELL 2025 conference poster describes him as a “distinguished Ghanaian scholar” with “a number of earned doctorates,” but GTEC maintains that such claims require scrutiny under Section 7(i) of Act 1023, which empowers it to verify certificates and degrees.
